Another week, another dodgy decision going against Motherwell. It’s time someone said it; clearly, there is an agenda against The Steelmen from the men in black.
Perhaps Tam Cowan once offended Kevin Clancy’s sensibilities with his rather risqué after-dinner routine, or Willie Collum wasn’t a fan of the music of Christian (sorry ‘Well fans, but that’s the only two semi-celebrity supporters I can think of).
Of course, no one is seriously suggesting this, despite the Scottish FA’s Key Match Incident panel judging that Stuart Kettlewell’s men got the stinky end of the stick once again with the controversial call by Clancy to chalk off a goal for Motherwell against Rangers, as Jack Butland punched into his own net under close attention from Tony Watt.
Off the back of the League Cup final blunder that went against Rangers, it was another high-profile shocker that head of referees Collum could have done without.
Collum has done a lot of good work since taking over the post in the summer, and his openness has been refreshing. Though, the recent leaked message of his having a pop at the shape of former assistant ref Ross Haswell as he officiated at the Masters was laying the candour on a little thick, perhaps.
What is undeniable however is that the standard of officiating in this country has yet to improve under his stewardship. And it must be a frustration to him that the KMI panel is now proving to be little more than a very public confirmation that match-altering bloopers from our officials are occurring on a remarkably regular basis.
This week (and for the last few), Motherwell have been on the wrong end of it. Hearts too were denied a penalty even after a VAR check against Ross County, a match they would go on to draw. Rangers, you might have heard, were of course denied a penalty in extra time against Celtic in the cup final, for an incident that Mr Magoo could have told you had carried on into the box.
When things like this happen in games involving Rangers or Celtic, there is of course a massive fallout. Talk turns to agendas, ‘patterns of assistance’, 'honest mistakes', what school a certain match official went to or what pub another has been seen drinking in.
Take it from any fan of any other club in the country though; as these other incidents outlined above suggest, the evidence overwhelmingly backs the assertion that it is ineptitude rather than anything darker that is the issue here.
I am always loathe to say such things about referees. The abuse they have to face is unimaginable, they are undeniably committed to their (part-time) profession nonetheless, and there wouldn’t be a game at all without them.
We all have a responsibility not to increase the pressure on their shoulders. Don Robertson, for instance, will be subject to an incredible level of scrutiny in today’s Old Firm match, and I can’t imagine that will help him maintain a clear mind if he’s faced with making a big, consequential call.
When the only defence you can credibly mount for their integrity and honesty though is that they are regularly screwing over just about every team, then it is clear there is an issue with the standard.
Read more:
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Willie Collum admits 'unacceptable' Rangers cup final penalty mistake
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Ian Maxwell on Rangers 'going to war' with the SFA and 'improving' VAR
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'No one agrees' with Casey's red card decision, says Motherwell boss
And then there is VAR. Shudder. The infernal technology was meant to help referees, but despite an upturn in ‘correct’ decisions, I have long argued that the payoff for what it takes away from the spectacle isn’t worth those few percentage points.
I was at the game at Fir Park on Sunday, and an otherwise exciting spectacle for the fans in attendance was blighted by long VAR checks after goals. When arguably the key incident in the match was then called wrong in the estimation of their own KMI panel in any case, you have to wonder if all this standing about and the curtailing of celebrations is really worth it.
For me, it isn’t. But I accept that I, and many others like me who have had their fill of VAR’s influence on the game, would be as well piddling into the gale force winds blasting the country at the minute when we call for the genie to be crammed back into the bottle and buried deep in a cave once more.
If it is here to stay though, no matter the prevailing opinions of the fans (who cares about them, eh?), then Collum has to find a way to improve the process, both in terms of the time it takes to make decisions and in reducing the number of errors.
Easier said than done, of course, but as the release of the audio from the infamous League Cup final call proved, there are areas that can quickly be addressed.
It seems from that conversation that officials are more often than not using replays to confirm their initial opinion, rather than viewing incidents with an open mind. See also Chris Graham’s inexplicable decision to uphold Dan Casey’s red card against Kilmarnock after a review, or the same officiating team’s failure to award Killie a stonewall first half penalty that evening too.
All of Collum’s improvements around the edges, such as the now excellent communication from his office with managers and the media, will count for little if his referees are still getting big calls wrong as often as they are.
As Motherwell manager Kettlewell has been hinting at recently, managers are getting a little fed up with receiving an apology on a Monday morning – as well meaning as it may be – when their team’s fortunes, and subsequently their job prospects, are being affected by matters outwith their control.
We are now at the midway point of the season, and I am afraid to say, the half-time report card can only state that our referees simply must do better. But there are no agendas at play. Not even against Motherwell.
